Protests across South Punjab for release of Jamshed Dasti

Protesters threaten to launch countrywide protests if Dasti is not released

MULTAN: Scores of people staged protest demonstrations at 20 different locations across South Punjab on Saturday for the release of MNA Jamshed Dasti who was arrested by police the other day for opening Band Danga canal near Head Kalo.

Protestors in Multan and Muzafargarh, the hometown of Dasti, burnt tires and shouted slogans against the government. In Multan, Seraiki Youth Movement staged a protest demonstration at Chowk Kumharanwala against the arrest of leader of Awami Raaj Party Jamshed Dasti.



Members of Seraki Youth Movement demanded immediate release of Dasti. The protesters said Dasti helped the poor farmers so that they could grow their crops. Protesters shouted slogans against the government and called the arrest ‘revenge’ by the government as Dasti spoke against the government in the parliament. Protesters threatened to launch country-wide protests if Jamshed Dasti was not be released in next 24 hours.

In District Muzafargarh, and its sub-districts, Shah Jamal, Khan Garh, Shehr Sultan, Jatoi, Ali Pur, Chowk Qureshi, Kot Addu, Rohilanwali and Sanawan scores of people including farmers staged protest in favour of Jamshed Dasti. Member of Punjab Bar Council Advocate Jam Mohammad Younus said the government has arrested Dasti for becoming the voice of Seraiki people. Member of Awami Raj Party Amir Karamat said the government should stop its illegitimate, cheap and dictatorial measures. Members of Awami Raj Party also took out a rally from main office of Awami Raj party to Katchehry Chowk.

Leader of Seraikistan Awami Ittehad Rana Faraz Noon said the arrest of Dasti tantamount to state terrorism. President Awami Raj Party of Tehsil Jampur Mansoor Khosa said if Jamshed Dasti was not released, the party workers would stage a sit-in at Chenab Bridge.



Meanwhile, senior member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Shah Mahmood Qureshi was stopped by police when he went to see Jamshed Dasti in central prison Multan on Saturday. Qureshi was accompanied by members of Seraikistan Awami Ittehad. Talking to media persons outside the Central Jail Multan, Qureshi said it was his legal right to meet Jamshed Dasti. “I just came to express my compassion and solidarity but police did not allow me to meet Dasti,” he said.

On the other hand, leader of the opposition Khursheed Shah has also written a letter to the speaker of the National Assembly and demanded that production orders of Jamshed Dasti would be issued.

Member of National Assembly and leader of Awami Raaj Party was produced in the court of duty magistrate late at Thursday night.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2017.